Birth with its fair share of ‘labour pains’

MALAYSIA, officially known as the Federation of Malaysia, was born on Sept 16, 1963. The birth of the new nation, however, was not without its pains. Opposition to a greater Malaysia came from several quarters following first Prime Minister Tunku Abdul Rahman’s historical proposal of a “merger” of Malaya, Singapore, Sabah (then North Borneo), Sarawak and Brunei at a luncheon function in Singapore on May 27, 1961. This was some five years after the Aug 31 “Merdeka” for Malaya.

A few leaders in Sabah and Sarawak wanted the British to grant them their own independent states.

In 1962, a team called the Cobbold Commission was set up to ascertain whether the people in Sabah and Sarawak were in favour of becoming part of the federation. The Commission found that the people favoured the formation with “one-third for it, one-third undecided and one-third objecting.”

Some in Singapore also sought independence. There was a revolt in Brunei which resulted in the oil-rich state opting to stay out of Malaysia.

Intending to block the formation of the federation, Indonesia and the Philippines pressed the United Nations to set up another commission of inquiry. This was started on Aug 26, 1963, a few days before the date originally set for the formation of Malaysia consisting of Malaya, Singapore, Sabah and Sarawak, which was Aug 31.

On Aug 24, it was announced that a new date was to be fixed. However, the British kept their decision to grant independence to both states on Aug 31.

The UN mission led by secretary-general U-Thant later reported that “a sizeable majority of people” were in favour of joining Malaysia and his report sealed the creation of Malaysia.

The Yang di-Pertuan Agong duly signed a proclamation declaring Sept 16 as “Malaysia Day” in accordance with the provisions of the Malaysia Act.

That did not stop Indonesia from declaring konfrantasi against Malaysia, a state of undeclared war from 1962 until 1966.

The Philippines, meanwhile, brought up its claim on Sabah.

And hours before the proclamation of the new federation, Kelantan sued Tunku Abdul Rahman and the Malaya government and asked for a declaration that the Malaysia Act was illegal. The suit was thrown out, however.

Malaysia finally became a reality on Sept 16, with the new Malaysian flag containing 14 stripes ceremonially unfurled at colourful parades attended by thousands of people in all the 14 states.

At Merdeka Stadium in Kuala Lumpur, the inaugural Malaysia Day celebrations took place in the evening with a parade and fireworks display. Earlier in the day, official festivities had been conducted in Sabah at Jesselton, the old name for Kota Kinabalu, and in Sarawak at Kuching.

An afternoon reading of the proclamation on the steps of City Hall was a high point in Singapore, which eventually split from Malaysia in 1965 to become a republic.

Since that historic day of celebrations across the nation, Malaysia Day festivities have been mostly confined to Sabah and Sarawak where Sept 16 has been a public holiday for some years now.

Last October, heeding the voice of east Malaysians, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak declared Sept 16 a national public holiday.

And, 47 years later, the first nation-wide celebration of Malaysia Day is being held in Sabah today.